April 19, 2002

Eagles
Patrick

1. Where would the eagles take off from? In the books none of them carry loads any great distance. Maybe they could have flown from Gondor, if Denethor was willing to let the ring go.

2. Stealth is obviously needed to get into Mordor. Although the defenses aren't always explictly mentioned. The two watchers at Minas Morgul might have been able to spot eagles from a long way off. Sauron also had use of a Palantir.

3. In the chapter "the last debate" Gandalf mentions the need for misdirection, for the armies of the west to march on Mordor and divert Sauron's attention from the ringbearer.

4. The eagles were able to enter Mordor only after the ring was destroyed. Things had basically gone all pear shaped for the bad guys by then.